Shoulder pad



Feb. 14, 1950 2,497,808

F. B. ZACKS SHOULDER PAD Filed July 50, 1948 Patented Feb. 14, 1950SHOULDER PAD Florence B. Zacks, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to R. G. BarryCorporation, Columbus, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 30, 1948, Serial No. 41,451

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shoulder pads and has for its general objectthe provision of novel and improved shoulder pads for womens wear whichare adapted to square up the shoulders of the garments to a more or lessdegree according to the prevailing mode, and which are removable fromthe shoulder independently of the garment, thus facilitating launderingof both the garment and the pad.

Within the scope of the invention, the pads may be stufl'ed with spongerubber or batting of cellulosic or other origin pre-molded, at least tosome extent, to fit the crown of the shoulder and preferably to taper toa desired degree from the maximum thickness at the outer margin to aminimum at the innermost point nearest the neck.

Each of the novel pads are provided with a pair of securingstrapspreferably of elastic tape materialupon its underside-one upon theforward half and one upon the rearward half. These straps arepermanently secured to the pad at one end and detachably secured at theother end as by means of a snap-fastener, and are adapted tofrictionally embrace the shoulder strap of the slip, the brassire, orother undergarment of the wearer, and are thus attached and removedentirely independently of the garment to which they are designed to lendshape.

One of the principal features of the present invention is theprovision-in connection with the securing elastics-of stiff althoughsomewhat resilient reinforcing and tension-resisting strips or bones.These strips may be of'steel, whalebone, plastic, composition, or othersuitable materials, and are contained within the fabric covering of thepads alongside of or embeddedin the filler or stuffing. The bones aredisposed parallel with the securing elastics and are secured to the padpreferably by rivets, staples, or other fastening elements which maypass entirely through the pad and which may also serve to secure theclastics and one of the snap-fastener elements.

The stiffening strips or bones serve not only to reinforce the pad andaid in preserving its shape at all times, but they are especially usefulin preventing the pads collapsing or buckling transversely under thetension of the securing straps or elastics,

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thefollowing specifications when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustratedby way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a pad embodyingthe principles of the invention and applied to a shoulder;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the underside of a pad flattened out in asingle plane, the pad in this example being stuffed with sponge rubber.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pad shown in Figure 2,taken on line 3-3 of that figure;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 ofa pad stuffed with batting offibrous material; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the pad of Figure 4, taken online 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings the novel shoulder pad is indicated generally by thereference numeral [0 and will be seen to have a generally triangularcontour, even approaching semi-circular as the inwardly directed corneris rounded on". The pad when applied assumes a generally inverted U-shaped configuration snugly fitting the shoulder I2 of the wearer andthe thicker edge l3 outermost and the attenuated curved edge l4 nearerthe neck I5 of the wearer. An undergarment l6 of any conventional typeis shown in Figure l as having a shoulder strap I! to which the novelshoulder pad I0 may be anchored to prevent its inadvertent displacementfrom its proper position upon the crown or arch of the shoulder.

In Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a preferredembodiment of the invention in which the padding or stufling of theshoulder pad is of molded sponge or foam rubber as indicated at 20. Thismass of soft rubber is wedgeshaped in transverse section and is of aroughly triangular or semi-oval configuration being enclosed in thecovering fabric 2|. The covering fabric is conveniently formed of anapproximately oval assemblage of cloth which is doubled upon itselfalong a diameter corresponding to the margin 13 of the pad and theoverlapping pinked edges 23 sewed together along the seam 25. The clothblank of which the covering 2| is made is preferably composed of twoparts united along the transverse seam 26.

Upon the under side of the pad and between the sponge rubber filler 20and covering cloth 2| there is interposed a lining 2! which may be of afairly coarse somewhat stifi fabric. Interposed between the liner 2'!and the sponge rubber 20 and extending diagonally of the pad upon eachhalf thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2, is the bone or reinforcingstrip 30, which may be made of metal, plastic, whalebone, or anysuitable or conventional stiff material. At one end of the liner 21, thecomparatively rigid strip and the sponge rubber may be secured togetheras bymeans of the staple 32, while the other end of the assembledmaterial, including the covering fabric 2|, is pierced by the rivetportion 35 of a snap fastener being carried by the free end 31 of thesecuring strap 38, the opposite end of which is sewed through thethickness of the pad and the bone or stripv 301- so that: when. notfastened the strap 38' lies in a position shown in the upper portion ofFigure 2. Thus when the strap 38, which is preferably of elasticmaterial, is stretched into position around the undergarment. shoulderstrap I! so that the snap fastener 35, 36 may be closed, theshoulder-strap l-l will be frictionally embraced between the pad properand the strap 38, with the edges of the shoulder strap I! confinedbetween the snap fastener. 35, 36 and the folded portion 42 of theelastic 38. This arrangement insures that the shoulder'strap I! will besnugly and frictionally received by the J It will-alsobe readilyperceivedthat'the bone or reinforcing strip 30 aids. in maintaining theproperconfiguration of the pad,,especially' along thesforward and rearsides of the shoulder, and also resists any transverse deformation ofthe shoulder pad due: to the tension of the elastic securing strap; 38.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated an; alternativeembodiment of the inventionin which substantiallythe samecoveri'ngstructure is" employed, including the. fabric 2|, but in: whichthe stufillng'zll comprises cotton batting: or'thelike; The bones orreinforcing strips are disposed at the same angular positions" as in theearlier stuffing by means of. the rivet-ZI and the. rivet portion135 ofthe snapv fastener 35., 36.. The: rivet 2! alsoserves to secure one=endof'the elastic supporting strap 38? to the pad. The. opposite end 31- ofthe elastic 38 carries the snap: fastener portion 33 which cooperateswith the opposite portion 35 to secure the; elastic strap 38 infrictional retaining positioniaroundthe undergarment shoulder strap H.

The reinforcing strip 38" serves the same function i in; this embodimentin helping to preserve theshape of the padand resisting deformation dueto the. tension of the. straps 38.

As used: in. the claims,,the phrase "direction of extent: ofthe shoulderoffthe wearer. is intended to signify thedirection along the. ridge: oftheshoulder. from the. neck outwardly.

Various changes and. modifications may' be made. in the embodimentsillustrated. and. described: herein-.without; departing; from the scopeOfi the invention. as defined; by the following. claims;

Having; thus described. the invention, what is claimed; as new anddesired. to be secured. by Letters Patentis:

1 Ashoulderpadof' the-class: described com.- prising, in combination, acovered fabric,,a soft yieldablestulfing.therein,,a pair of separatenarrow stiff reinforcing bonesiembeddedin:thepad, each: boneextendingapproximately in' the. direction. of" extent of. the shoulder: of" the.wearer, the; bones: being spaced: apart; transversely of the shoulder;elastic retaining tapes; applied. to the underside-r of; the? pad; saidtapes being approximately cotermlnous. and. parallel with the respectivebones. means. for' securing the respec- 4 tive ends of the tapes to thebody of the pad and to said bones at points adjacent thereto, with thetapes under tension and the intermediate \portions thereof embracing theshoulder strap of the undergarment of the wearer.

2. In a shoulder pad of the class described, a soft yieldable bodyportion a covering fabric, a narrowrrelatively. stiff reinforcingboneembedded in the pad, adapted to extend approximately in thedirection of extent of the shoulder of the wearer, and of a lengthshorter than the extent O fi thezlpad in said direction, whereby saidbone terminates somewhat short of the ends of the pad; a' retaining tapeapplied to the pad and disposed when in use substantially parallel andcot'erminous with said bone, means for securing one end; of said tape tothe pad adjacent the corresponding end of said bone at one point, andmeans for securing the other end of said tape to the pad adjacent theopposite end of said bone.

3: In a shoulder pad of the class describedl'asoft yieldable bodyportion, a covering fabric; a narrow, relatively stiff reinforcing boneembedded in the pad andadapted toextend approximately in the-directionof extent of the shoulder of the wearer, a retaining tape applied to thepad and disposed when in use substantially parallel with said bone,means extending at least partially through the body of 'the pad forsecuring one end of said tape both to the pad and to saidbone atonewpoint, and means for similarly securing the other'end of'said tapeto the pad'and to the bone at a point spaced from said first namedpoint;

4. In a shoulder pad of the class-described; a soft yieldable bodyportion, a covering fabric, a straight, narrow, relatively stiffreinforcing bone embedded in the pad and adapted to extend approximatelyin the direction of extent ofthe shoulderof'the' wearer, an elasticretaining tape applied to the pad and disposed when in use substantiallyparallel with said bone, means extending at least partially through thebody of" the pad for securing one end' of said tape permanently both tothe pad and to said bone at one point, and" means for detachablysecuring the other end of said tape to the pad and to the bone at apoint spaced from said first named point.

5'. The shoulder pad set forth in claim 4' in which the secondnamedsecuring means comprises'a snap fastener combination, one element of;which is permanentlysecured to said bone and thebody'of the pad and themating element is? secured to the last named end of the tape and isadapted to be snapped into engagement with the first named element.

6; Theshoulder" pad set" forth in claim 4 in which the body of tlie padissponge' rubber;

FLORENCE B. ZACKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record

